What Happened to The Mummy (film series)?

The Mummy film series has a multifaceted history, evolving from classic horror to blockbuster action-adventure and then attempting a modern horror reboot before finding new life in multiple directions. The franchise's most iconic iteration began in 1999 with Stephen Sommers' "The Mummy," starring Brendan Fraser as adventurer Rick O'Connell and Rachel Weisz as Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan. This film, a blend of action, adventure, and horror, was a commercial success, grossing $417.6 million worldwide against an $80 million budget. Its success led to a direct sequel, "The Mummy Returns" (2001), which introduced Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the Scorpion King and earned $436 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film in the series. A prequel, "The Scorpion King" (2002), further expanded this universe. The original trilogy concluded with "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008), which saw Maria Bello replace Rachel Weisz and Rob Cohen take over directing from Sommers. This film, while still grossing over $400 million worldwide, received diminished critical reception and was considered the weakest of the trilogy. An animated series, "The Mummy: The Animated Series," also aired from 2001 to 2003, loosely based on the films.

After a hiatus, Universal Pictures attempted to revive its classic monster properties with the "Dark Universe" initiative, beginning with a new "The Mummy" film in 2017, starring Tom Cruise. Directed by Alex Kurtzman, this reboot aimed for a darker, more serious tone. However, it was a critical and commercial disappointment, grossing $409.2 million worldwide against a reported budget of $125 million, and failing to launch the intended shared universe. Kurtzman himself later referred to the film as "probably the biggest failure of my life, both personally and professionally". This setback led to the shelving of the Dark Universe plans, though Universal has continued to develop individual monster films outside of a shared continuity.

The franchise entered a new phase in 2026 with two distinct projects. On April 17, 2026, Warner Bros. Pictures released "Lee Cronin's The Mummy," a horror-focused reimagining produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. This film, directed by Lee Cronin (known for "Evil Dead Rise"), aimed to return the Mummy concept to its horror roots, diverging entirely from the action-adventure style of the Fraser films and the 2017 reboot. It grossed $90.6 million worldwide on a $22 million budget and received mixed reviews.

Simultaneously, a highly anticipated direct sequel to the original Brendan Fraser trilogy, tentatively titled "The Mummy 4," is in active development. Brendan Fraser confirmed his return to the role of Rick O'Connell in late 2025 and has been training for the role. Crucially, Rachel Weisz is also set to reprise her role as Evelyn O'Connell, a return that fans have long desired after her absence in the third film. John Hannah (Jonathan Carnahan), Oded Fehr (Ardeth Bay), and Kevin J. O'Connor (Beni Gabor) are also confirmed to be returning, with new additions like Numan Acar and Michael Johnston. The film is being directed by the Radio Silence duo, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known for their work on the "Scream" franchise. This sequel is reportedly set to ignore the events of "Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" to maintain continuity with the original cast's chemistry and is scheduled for release on October 15, 2027. This renewed focus on the beloved original cast and tone signals a significant turning point, aiming to deliver the long-awaited continuation fans have desired for years.

In related news, Universal's Epic Universe theme park, set to open in 2025, will feature a "Dark Universe" land, offering immersive experiences based on Universal's classic monsters, including "Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment". Permits filed in 2026 suggest a potential new water ride or dark ride attraction for this land, possibly themed around the Creature from the Black Lagoon.